Sled



J..,E. MATTHEWS.

SLED.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 15 I921.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

INVINTOR ATTORNEY WITNESSES.

J. E. MATTHEWS.

SLED.

APPUCATION FILED JUNE 15. I921.

Patented Dec. 5, 1922.

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JAMES E. MIA'I'IHIEWVS, OF FARRELL, PENNSYLVANIA.

, Application filed June l5, 1921. Serial No. 477,723.

runner which will facilitate rather than re-,

tard the gliding of the sled over slippery surfaces.

A further object is the production of a sled which is provided withbraking means for stopping the sled to avoid anyliability to danger tothe operator or to the sled.

The foregoing, and other objects which will appear as the nature-f theinvention is better understood, may be accomplished by a construction,combination and operative arrangement of parts, such as is disclosed bythe drawings Which accompany and which form partof this application.

In the drawings 1- Figure 1 is a side elevation of asled constructed inaccordance with thisinvention.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view thereof.

Figure d is a sectional view on the line l-4l of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Figure 2, andillustrating the chain brake in braking position.

"ll it'll slight alterations that will reinforce and strengthen sleds ofthe ordinary construction, my improvement may be attached thereto.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the numeral 1. designatesrunners on which is secured a top board or seat 2. The top edges of therunners 1 are recessed to receive therein spaced transversely arrangedconnecting cleats 3, 4; and 5 respectively, the seat or top 2 being alsosecured to the said cleats. In addition to the cleats 2 the runnerslnear the front and rear ends thereof, and at points near or adjacent tothe center of the said runners have additional transversely ar rangedreinforcing cleats or bars 6 and 7 respectively.

The above recited elements are constructed of wood, but the runners lare provided with the usual surface contacting members or runnersproper.

Arranged centrally between the side runners l and partly underlying thetop or I 2, as well as projecting a suitable distance beyond the frontends of the said side runners is a guide runner 8. The runner 8 has itsupper edge, at its rear corner notched, as at 9, the lower wall providedby the notch contacting with the under face of the cleat 4. The upperedge of the guide runner 8,

opposite the cleat .5 is provided with a depression, of a materiallygreater lengththan the width of the said cleat 5, and the depth of thedepression is also less than the thickness of the said cleat 5. In thisdepression indicated by the numeral 10 there is centrally arranged a.projecting bolt 11. The bolt 11 is secured tothe guide runner 8 in anydesired or preferred manner, the'same being in the nature of a king boltand entering a socket 12 providedin the under face of the cleat 5. Theguide runner, forward of the king bolt is approximately centrally formedwith an elongated transverse opening 13 that receives therethrough thecleat or bar 6. The opening 13 is ofa materially greater length than thewidth of the cleat or bar 6, but the contacting engagement of the lowerwall of the cleat with the lower wall provided by the opening 13prevents the upper edge of the guiderunner contacting with the seat ortop 52 of the sled. This is also true With respect to the engagement ofthe wall provided by the notch 9 and the cleat 4:. Thus it will hemanifest that the guide runner is not only pivotally connected to thesled proper but being out of contacting engagement with the topor seatthereof is permitted a swinging movement on the pivot or king bolt 12,and such movement is not materially restricted by the contactingengagement of the walls of the opening 13 and the notch with the cleats6 and l respectively. The ground contacting surface of the runner issteel bound. I

Onthe front of the guide runner 8 at the upper and outer corner thereofthere is a laterally extending bar 14% to the ends of which the pullcord for the sled is attached. The bar 14- also serrcs as a rest for thefeet of the user of the sled, and a pressure e3;-

erted on either end of the said bar will cause the swinging oi the guiderunner so that the sled can. be properly guided over a surface.

Secured, as at 15. to the sides of the guide runner 8, forward of theopening 13 in the said runner, are the ends of'a chain 16. This chainprovides the brake for the sled. (3n one side of the guide runner, nearthe front or nose thereof there are guides 17 and 18 respectively for arod 19. The rod has its outer end oiiset and hook shapeth as at 20,whereby to sustain thechain 16 against the 'front or nose of the guiderunner. when the said chain brought to such position. The re if) has itsinner end bent at a downward angleas at 21 and its outer portion isoitset, as a w The angle portion 21 of the bar is guided in the bracket18, and the said bar has connected thereto one end of a springQS, thesecond end being secured, at 241 to the side ot' the guide runner. Thebar 19 is in the nature of a trigger or catch member and a pressure bythe foot of the operator on the sled will more the bar 19 outwardagainst the tension of its spring, causing the hooked end of the saidbar to release the chain, permitting the chain to drop by gravity on tothe surface over which the sled is tia-yeling and when brought beneaththe auxiliary runner the chain will serve as an eflective brake for thesled whereby the sled may be brought to a speedy stop to avoid danger.

It is believed that the foregoing description, when taken in' connectionwith the drawings will fully set forth the construe tion, operation andadvantages of my i1nprovement but it is to be understood that theshowing and description refer only to a satis'h'xctoryembodiment of theimprovement nea /s15 as it now appears to me, and that I am entitled tomake all such changes therefrom as fall within the scope of what isclaimed.

Having described the invention I claim z-- 1. The combination with asled, of an auxiliary runner centrally pivoted thereto ha 'ing its rearterminating inward of the rear of the sled and its front projectingbeyond the front of the sled, means between the sled and the auxiliaryrunner holding the latter out of contacting engagement with the top ofthe sled, a laterally extending bar secured tothe outer end of the guiderunner and providing a foot rest and a guide bar a chain having its endssecured to the sides Q 1 V V. o1 tne auxiliary runner, and springinfluenced means at the front the auxiliary runner engaging the chainfor normally holding the same from ground contacting position, saidmeans including an offset portion to be engaged by the foot of theoperator resting on'said'guide bar.

2. The combination with a sled, of an auxiliary runner pivotally securedthereto and projecting beyond the front thereof, a guide bar on theouter end of the auxiliary runner, a chain having its ends secured tothe sides of the guide runner and designed to be normally arrangedaround the front edge of the auxiliary runner, a spring influenced rodhaving an offset hooked end designed to contact withthe front of theauxiliary runnerand to hold the chain elevated, said rod having itsinner end extended downwardly and from thence outwardly to provide acontact element for the foot of the operator resting on the guide bar.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JAMES E. Mirr'rnitws.

